Infection Risk / Hygene: We're not Paranoid...Yet!

One of the things you learn early on with a Leukemia diagnosis is that Leukemia and chemotherapy decrease your body's ability to fight off illness (Neutropenia).  This is how Lexi ended up with a 105 degree fever in response to a couple of basic cold viruses.

As much as we think of colds and other contagious viruses, in many cases the bigger threat is the one that is already all around us.  There is bacteria that lives in the soil, on our food, on our skin, and even in our gut.  This bacteria is usually not harmful, and in many cases is necessary to live.  There are bacterial that help to break down food to produce certain vitamins, etc.  The problem is when your immune system is sufficiently weakened they will cause problems in the body like any other pathogen.

At this point any fever will send us back to the hospital.  This creates a strong incentive to pay attention to the issue.  It has been one of the most time consuming issues since we got home.  The hardest thing here is not to overreact to everything we see.  

One thing that is really stressed to us is that kids with cancer should still get to do normal kid things.  Most of them still go to school (when their numbers aren't really bad).   Basically, she can do most things (go to stores, swim in a pool, play with other kids, etc.).  We should just avoid high risk situations (avoid crowded places with sick people...don't go to opening night of the latest Disney movie and sit with 100 stuffy nosed kids for 2 hours, etc. or some specific high risk activities they told us about.)

Those of you who visited us in the hospital saw that everyone (except Lexi, Christen, and I were wearing masks).  The masks were because she came into the hospital with a respiratory virus.  The masks were to protect the nurses, visitors, and other patients.  They were not there to help keep her from getting sick. 

We are not asking visitors to wear masks. Lexi shouldn't wear a mask when we are out, or any precautions like that.  There isn't that much benefit and it will likely change how she perceives what is "normal" around her.  We don't want her to look/feel like the 'sick' person more than we absolutely have to.  The bottom line is if your are sick, don't visit.  

What we are doing:

• WASH HANDS FREQUENTLY
• Keeping high risk areas of the house really clean (kitchen/bathroom)
• Careful food handling (avoid food poising, cross contamination, etc. )
• Avoid her when we are sick.  
• Monitor for fever

What you can do to help:

• If you come to visit, please us the hand sanitizer to clean your hands when you arrive.  
• If you are bringing food, please keep in mind good food handling.  Wash your hands when preparing and don't let food sit out for hours.  
• If your are sick (fever, cough, etc. in the last 48hrs), please don't visit.  

We appreciate your understanding/cooperation with this issue.

-Shawn